Have your say on county council’s electoral division boundary proposals

Residents of the Melton borough have a chance to have their say on Leicestershire County Council’s proposals to update the areas which elect councillors.

The council has produced proposals after the Local Government Boundary Commission for England agreed to retain the current total of 55 councillors, but to amend the boundaries of the council divisions that elect them, by 2017, to reflect population changes.

For Melton the proposed changes would see polling district E1, currently part of the town’s Egerton Ward, added to the county council’s Asfordby electoral division.

A County Hall spokesman said: “It’s acknowledged that by adding this polling district it splits the borough ward. There are, however, a number of connections between the polling district E1 and the proposed Asfordby electoral division which includes family connections, a number of children from the Egerton area attending Asfordby Hill Primary School and good public transport connections between the two.”

The Melton North electoral division (which covers the E2 polling district of the town’s Egerton Ward as well as Melton Newport and Sysonby town wards) is proposed to be re-named the Melton Ferneley division.

The Melton South division (covers the town’s Craven, Dorian and Warwick Wards) would become the Melton Sargent division.

The Belvoir electoral division (covers borough wards of Long Clawson and Stathern, Bottesford, Croxton Kerrial, Waltham and Wymondham) is proposed to stay the same.

The county council is inviting residents across Leicestershire, including Melton and Charnwood, to comment on its proposals, from May 18-29, so it can consider the views submitted before making its final submission to the Boundary Commission.

A spokesman added: “The boundary review is being undertaken to ensure, as far as possible, that each councillor represents roughly the same number of voters. It also provides a chance to update council divisions and ensure they reflect changes to communities, such as a predicted rise in the electorate due to a new housing development.”

To have our say on the proposals visit www.leics.gov.uk/boundaryreview